Diving board construction



July 4, 1967 .1. T. MARSHALL DIVING BOARD CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Feb. 6, 1964 J O C INVENTOR JOHN T- MARSHALL AGENT July 4, 1967 J.T. MARSHALL 3,329,426

DIVING BOARD CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 6, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 k i I (J JI I j- I O 1 L J 42 l- T' 43 44 i 0 o l 1/ I INVENTOR.

JOHN T- MARSHALL AGENT United States Patent 3,329,426 DIVING BOARDCONSTRUCTION John T. Marshall, 9306 Forest Hills Drive, Tampa, Fla.33612 Filed Feb. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 343,074 5 Claims. (Cl. 272--66) Thepresent invention relates to a diving board construction, and moreparticular-1y, to a new and novel diving board construction extremelysimple in design, cheap in cost, and which will provide maximum utilityto all users regardless of weight or size.

Diving boards heretofore employed have, in general, consisted of astraight board made of either metal or wood, which is bolted orotherwise secured at one end to a base or support member adjacent theedge of a swimming pool or other body of water. A cross member whichfunctions as a fulcrum is in engagement with the undersurface thereofand supports the board between the attached end and the free end. Toderive a spring from the board in the execution of a dive into aswimming pool or the like, the user strides down the board to the freeend, jumps upwardly, and comes down into contact with the free end ofthe board, forcing the free end downwardly from the fulcrum point. Theuser is then carried or sprung upwardly into the air as the boardreturns upwardly to its normal position to execute the desired dive andenter the water.

Prior diving boards have been made in various grades and qualities. Forexample, in competitive diving, in which the divers execute intricateturns, twists, and the like while in the air, the diving boards employedare carefully made from special woods and the like and are quiteexpensive in cost as well as expensive to maintain in proper condition.Moreover, such expensive boards are designed and mounted for use forpeople generally in the same weight class in order to achieve themaximum spring derivable from the boards. As a result, such expensiveboards would be impractical to use, not only from a cost standpoint, butfrom an operational standpoint at swimming pools, lakes, or the likewhere the users will range from lightweight children up to adults.

The diving boards generally employed, therefore, at the many private andpublic pools found in motels, homes, clubs, and like recreational areas,have been relatively cheap in cost and design and have beenobjectionable since the full and proper degree of spring from suchboards is not achieved by all users. In a pool where the users willrange from children to adults, it is impossible for a single board ofprior design to impart the same degree of spring to all persons due tothe wide variance in the weights of the users involved. For example, adiving board that would give the maximum degree of spring when used byan adult would give virtually no spring to a lightweight child due tohis inability to materially flex the board. This use of a board designedprimarily for adults also creates a hazard to a lightweight user in thatthe failure to obtain the expected spring can oftentimes throw the childoff balance causing him to enter the water in an uncontrolled manner.Moreover, a spring board that is of sufficient flexibility to permit achild to obtain a maximum degree of spring is also undesirable to anadult since it results in a throwing of the adult to such an extent thathe likewise will oftentimes lose his control during the dive.Furthermore, such a flexible board would be subject to possible breakingwhen used by a heavy person. Thus, the diving boards marketed forgeneral use by the public heretofore have been on a compromise basis inwhich the boards impart a certain degree of spring to all users, butnever provide the proper maximum degree of spring to any one group.

3,329,426 Patented July 4, 1967 "ice As a result, up to the present timethere is not a diving board construction available that is simple indesign, inexpensive in cost, assembly, and maintenance, and can beutilized fully to achieve the proper degree of spring regardless of theweight of the user.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention, in theelimination of the foregoing and related disadvantages, to provide a newand novel diving board construction.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a divingboard construction that is inexpensive in cost, installation, andmaintenance.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a divingboard construction that can be utilized fully at the pools at allmotels, clubs, private homes, and the like, regardless of the sizethereof.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a divingboard construction that will possess an extremely long life, regardlessof the extent of use, and is virtually unbreakable.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of adiving board construction that may be employed by any person safely andeffectively, regardless of the age, weight, or diving ability of theuser.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of adiving board construction which will impart the maximum degree of springto all users, regardless of age or weight of such users.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a divingboard construction that is completely safe to use without thepossibility of harm regardless of the age, weight or diving ability ofthe user.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a divingboard construction that will facilitate the attainment of diving skillmore quickly and with less effort than with prior diving boards.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a divingboard construction that is portable and can be moved from one area toanother easily and quickly.

Other and additional objects will become manifest from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Broadly stated, the diving board construction of the present inventioncomprises a top spring metal board member, a bottom board memberintegrally secured at one end to one end of said top board member andextending downwardly and outwardly therefrom in reverse bendrelationship, a plurality of metal spring portions integrally secured tosaid bottom board member and extending upwardly and outwardly therefromin the direction of the undersurface of said top board member, saidspring metal portions being vertically spaced with respect to oneanother to provide a plurality of vertically spaced bearing points forthe top board member upon the downward movement thereof, and means forsecuring said bottom board member to a support.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the presentinvention then consists of the means hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and thefollowing description setting forth in detail certain means in thecarrying out of the invention, such disclosed means illustrating,however, but one of various ways in which the principle of the inventionmay be employed.

The present invention is illustrated, by way of exemple, in theaccompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a divingboard construction made in accordance with the present inventionillustrating the association of the diving board with a jumping stand.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the diving board shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the diving board construction shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a modified form of a diving board apparatusmade in accordance with the present invention in which the diving boardis in one piece.

Reference is now to be had to the drawings, and with particularreference to FIGS. 1-3, wherein a diving board apparatus made inaccordance with the present invention and generally designated byreference numeral is shown. The diving board apparatus 10 may be made ofany suitable metal possessing a degree of strength and rigidity and yetcapable of being sufliciently resilient to be flexed without deformationthereof. A suitable metal found to meet these requirements is springsteel, although it is to be clearly understood that other metals meetingthese requirements may be employed equally as well.

The diving board construction 10, as illustrated, comprises a top springmetal board member, generally designated by reference numeral 11, whichfunctions as the main flexing or springing portion of the divingapparatus. The top spring metal board member 11, as illustrated, isinclined upwardly and includes five metal strip members 12, 13, 14, 15,and 16 of substantially the same length and width lying in side by siderelationship to one another. The strip members 12-16 are held in tightside by side relationship with one another, to form the top board member11 by a metal band 17 or like connecting member secured thereto byriveting, bolting, or the like, and extending therearound in encirclingrelationship therewith. As illustrated, the metal strips are five innumber. However, it is to be clearly understood that any suitable numberof strips may be employed. Five is the number preferred since this makesit possible, as will be described more fully hereinafter, to providethree separate fulcrum points. However, if more or less fulcrum pointsare desired, the number of strips may be increased or decreasedaccordingly. This construction results in a unitary top board member inwhich the strip members are held in fixed relationship to one anotherand will move as one. Secured to the top surface of the forward free endof the formed top board member 11 in any suitable manner is a mat 18which provides the surface which a diver will engage when using thediving apparatus.

Each of the metal strips 12-16 at the end remote from the end receivingthe mat 18 is reversely bent uniformly forming an arcuate end portiongenerally designated by reference numeral 19. Each of the metal strips12-16 extend :downwardly and outwardly from the reversely bent arcuateend portion 19 forming a bottom or base member, generally designated byreference numeral 20, which lies in spaced substantially verticalalignment with the spring metal board member 11. The base member 20functions to provide a bottom support for the top member 11 and will liein angular relationship thereto. If desired, the base member 20' may beprovided with a band such as hand 17 to positively insure the retentionof the strips 12-16 in tight side by side engagement.

The end of each of the metal strips 12-16 remote from the reversely bentend portion 19 is bent upwardly and forwardly for a short distance toform a mounting member, generally designated by reference numeral 21,which will lie in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of thesupport member to which the diving apparatus 10 Will be connected. Themounting member 21 is secured, as illustrated, to a support member S bymeans of bolts 22 passing through each of the strips 12-16 into thesupport member S. The support member S may be made of any suitablematerial, such as, for example, metal, wood, concrete, or the like, andmay be of any desired configuration or design. The support S, forexample, may be permanently attached or detachably secured to the poolstructure, or may be of concrete integrally formed with the pool duringthe formation of same. However, as will become apparent hereinafter, thesupport S may be part of the frame a diver will employ when using thediving construction 10 of the present invention. In such an event, thebase of the frame receiving the support member S should be suflicientlyheavy to insure rigidity for the entire assembly during the use of thediving construction 10. Alternatively, the base of the frame may bebolted or otherwise connected to the pool which will permit readydetachment of the frame therefrom when same is to be moved. Theconstruction just described results in a spring metal diving board whichextends upwardly in inclined relation to the normal horizontal plane ofthe swimming pool. The diving board is secured to a support by a bottomor base board member integrally formed therewith in a reverse bendrelationship and which extends downwardly and outwardly therefrom and invertical alignment with the diving board.

As illustrated, the diving board apparatus 10 is provided with threevertically spaced and horizontally staggered fulcrums or hearing pointsagainst which the top board member 11 will contact when the apparatus isbeing used. As hereinbefore indicated, the number of fulcrum points may,if desired, be greater or lesser in number. Three fulcrum points arepreferred, since this, in general, will provide a maximum degree ofspring for children, youths, and adults, as separate groups independentof one another. To provide the necessary fulcrum points, each of themetal strips 12-16 is bent upwardly and forwardly from the formedmounting member 21 in different angular relationship to one another inthe direction of but stopping short of the undersurface of the formedtop board member 11.

To form the fulcrum point for children of lighter weight, the portion ofthe central strip 14 bent upwardly is of a length less than the lengthof the remaining strips 12, 13, 15, and 16, and is bent upwardly at agreater angle to the horizontal than the remaining strips. The centralstrip 14 is centrally disposed beneath the top board member and has itsfree end curved outwardly and downwardly forming a hearing or fulcrumpoint A which will engage the center of the undersurface of the topboard member 11 at a point rearwardly of the free end thereof when sameis depressed downwardly. This arrangement of the central strip 14 formsthe first fulcrum point which will be higher and spaced rearwardly fromthe free end of the top board member 11 for a distance greater than theremaining fulcrum points.

To form the second fulcrum point, the inside strips 13 and 15 are bentupwardly and outwardly identically, but at an angle with respect to thehorizontal less than that of the central strip 14. The strips 13 and 15also are of a length greater than the central strip 14 but of lesserlength than the remaining outside strips 12 and 16. The free ends of theinside strips 13 and 15 are bent downwardly and outwardly identicallyforming bearing or fulcrum points B laterally spaced from one another,and which will engage the undersurface of the top board member 11 whensame is depressed on each side of the central portion thereof. Thefulcrum points B lie below and forwardly of the fulcrum point A andfunction to provide the maximum degree of spring to persons ofintermediate weight.

The third fulcrum point is formed by bending the outside strips upwardlyand outwardly at an angle to the horizontal less than the angle of theinside strips 13 and 15. The strips 12 and 16, as hereinbeforeindicated, are also longer than the inside strips 13 and 15. The freeends of each of the outside strips 12 and 16 are bent downwardly andoutwardly forming hearing or fulcrum points C which are laterally spacedfrom one another and will engage the undersurface of the top boardmember 11 on either side thereof when same is depressed fully. Thefulcrum points C lie below and forwardly of the fulcrum points B andfunction to provide the maximum degree of spring to persons of heavierweight, such as adults.

As will be observed, the construction just described provides a metalspring board construction which possesses three fulcrum points which arespaced vertically with respect to one another as well as being spacedhorizontally from one another to engage the undersurface of the topboard member 11 at different points when same is depressed. For example,when the dividing board construction is used by a small child, the topboard member 11 will be depressed only a short distance downwardly andwill engage the fulcrum point A at a point rearwardly of the free end ofthe top board member 11 more remote than the other two fulcrum points.Similarly, when a person of intermediate weight employs the divingboard, the top board member 11 will engage the fulcrum point A and thefulcrum points B, with the fulcrum points B engaging the undersurface ofthe board member 11 at points forwardly from the fulcrum point A towardthe free end of the top board member 11. When a person of heavy weightemploys the top board construction, the undersurface of the top boardmember 11 will engage the fulcrum points A and B, and then the fulcrumpoints C, with the fulcrum points C being nearer the forward free end ofthe top board member 11 than the other two points. This constructionpermits persons of all weights to achieve a maximum degree of spring,which has not been possible with diving board constructions heretofore.

To utilize the spring board construction 10, a platform frameconstruction, generally designated by reference numeral 25, isassociated with the diving board construction in a manner bestillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, The platform frame may be made of anysuitable material, such as, for example, wood, metal, or the like.Similarly, as hereinbefore indicated, the diving board construction 10may be secured to the frame 25 such that the frame 25 and the divingboard construction 10 may be secured to the support S in the mannerhereinbefore described, and the frame 25 merely associated with thesupport S in a non-secured relationship.

The platform frame 25 comprises a pair of front vertical corner posts 26which are positioned on either side of the dividing board construction10 and extend to a height above the top board member 11. The frontcorner posts 26 also are positioned rearwardly of the free end of thetop board member 11 for a distance suflicient for a person jumping fromthe top of the top frame member to engage the mat 18 secured to the topsurface of the top board member 11. A pair of rear vertical corner posts27 are rearwardly positioned from the front corner posts 26 and providea rectilinear frame configuration therewith. A top member 28 is securedby any suitable means, such as, for example, bolting, nailing, riveting,or the like, to the top free ends of each of the corner posts 26 and 27and provides the platform from which a diver using the diving boardapparatus 10 will jump. The bottom free ends of each of the corner posts26 and 27 may be provided with bottom connecting members if desired toinsure rigidity to the frame 25. The bottom connecting members will beneeded in the event the support S is to be secured or connected to theframe construction to provide a unitary portable assembly. In thisevent, the support S may be secured by bolting or the like to eachbottom support member connecting each front vertical member 26 with itscorresponding rear vertical member 27. Alternatively, as hereinbeforeindicated, the support member S may be positioned independently of theframe 25 in non-connected relationship.

To provide access to the platform frame 25, a step construction,generally designated by reference numeral 30, is connected or otherwiseassociated to the top frame member 25. As illustrated, the stepconstruction 30 is positioned to the rear of the platform frame 25.However, it is to be clearly understood that the step construction maybe in the form of a ladder mounted on the side of the top frame memberin detachable relationship, or may be made integral with the top framemember 25. In order to provide additional height from which a diver maydrop onto the spring board construction 10 to achieve greater spring,auxiliary platforms are shown in broken lines on top of the top framemember 28 and designated generally by reference numeral 31. By the useof the auxiliary platforms 31, an older or more skillful diver can dropfor a greater distance onto the top board member 11 and achieve muchgreater lift to execute more intricate dives.

In the operation of the diving board construction 10 of the presentinvention, the diver will mount the platform frame 25 by means of thestep or ladder construction 30 and will move to the forward edge of thetop frame member 28. The diver will then jump up and outwardly and droponto the mat 18 secured to the forward free end of the top board member11. Depending upon the weight of the diver, the top board member 11 willbe forced downwardly bending initially from the reverse bend portion 19until it engages one or more of the fulcrum points. For example, with aperson of intermediate weight, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, thetop board member 11 will engage the fulcrum point A and the fulcrumpoints B. With the downward movement and bending of the top board member11, the bottom board member 20 and the reverse bend portion 19 will movedownwardly with the bottom board member pivoting at the point ofattachment of the bottom board member 20 to the support S.correspondingly, the forward free ends of the strips 13, 14, and 15forming fulcrum points A and B will be placed under tension when inengagement with the undersurface of the top board member 11. The topboard member 11 will then move upwardly due to release of tension toreturn to its normal position, lifting the diver upwardly and forwardlyinto the air to considerable heights to execute the dive intended.

In the event a heavier person utilizes a diving board construction, thetop board member 11 will engage all three fulcrum points A, B, and C,with the bottom member 20 being moved downwardly for a greater distance,and when the top board member 11 moves upwardly, the diver will bethrown to a maximum height to execute the desired dive. It is thus seenthat the diving board construction of the present invention provides adiver, regardless of his weight or technical skill, a diving boardconstruction which will elevate him to, a maximum height freely andeasily, which has not been possible heretofore from a single divingconstruction.

Reference is now to be had to FIG. 4 wherein a modified form of thediving board apparatus made in accord ance with the present invention isshown. In this form of the invention, the diving board apparatuscomprises a top board member, generally designated by reference numeral35, which is in the form of .a single piece of spring metal rather thanin a form of aplurality of strips, as shown in the form of the inventionin FIG. 1. The top board member 35 is reversely bent forming a reversebend portion 36 in a manner identical with the reverse bend portion 19of the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-3, with the exception thatit is a unitary one-piece bend portion. A bottom board member 37 isintegrally secured to the reverse bend portion 36 and extends downwardlyand outwardly therefrom and in vertical alignment with the top boardmember 11 in a manner similar to the bottom 'board member 20 of the formof the invention shown in FIGS. 1-3, with the exception that it is alsoin one-piece.

The forward free end of the bottom member 37 remote from the reversebend portion 36 is secured to the support S by a plurality of bolts orthe like in a manner similar to the form of the invention shown in FIGS.1-3. The free end of the bottom board member 36 forwardly of the supportS is integrally secured to five metal strip members 40, 41, 42, 43, and44. Each of these strip members 4044 is identical in angulararrangement, configuration,

and dimension with the strips 12-16 forming the fulcrum points A, B, andC in the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-3, and will formlikewise fulcrum points A, B, and C identical with those of the form ofthe invention shown in FIGS. 1-3. Alternatively, if desired, the stripmembers 4044 may be in non-integral relationship with the bottom boardmember 37.In such event, the strip members 40 and 44 may be secured tothe support S immediately forward of the bottom member 37. The advantageof themodified form of the invention is that it will enable the divingconstruction to be made in a form of a one-piece metal board memberrather than a plurality of strips secured to one another. The operationof the modified form of the invention will be the same.

Whilelthere have been described herein what are at present consideredpreferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that modifications and changes may be made thereinwithout departing from the essence of the invention. It is therefore tobe understood that the exemplary embodiments are illustrative and notrestrictive of the invention, the scope of which is defined in theappended claims, and that all modifications that come within the meaningand range, of equivalency of the claims are intended to be includedtherein.

I claim:

1. A diving board construction comprising metal strips in side by siderelationship, said strips including a center strip, a pair of innerstrips on each side of said center strip, and a pair of outer strips oneach side of said inner strips, means retaining said metal strips intight side by side engagement with one another forming a top boardmember, each of said strips being reversely bent and extending firstdownwardly and outwardly forming a rear bottom board member lying invertical alignment with and extending downwardly and outwardly from saidtop board member, means adjacent the opposite end of said formed rearbottom board member for securing same to -a support, each of said stripsextending upwardly and outwardly from the opposite end of the formedrear bottom board member in the direction of the undersurface of saidtop board member, the center strip being of a length less than thelength of the other strips and at an angle to the horizontal greaterthan the other strips, the inner strip on either side of said middlestrip being of a length less than the length of the remaining outerstrips and at an angle to the horizontal greater, than that of the outerstrips, the free. ends of the. center strip, the pair of inner stripsand the pair of outer strips being bent outwardly and downwardly formingfirst, second, and third fulcrum points respectively, said first,second, and third fulcrum points being vertically and horizontallyspaced from one another with said first fulcrum point being closer tothe undersurface of said top board member and more remote from the freeend thereof than the remaining fulcrum points, whereby the resiliency ofthe metal board and the strip members will impart the maximum degree ofspring to all users.

2. A diving board construction comprising a metal top board member, ametal bottom board member integrally secured at one end to one end ofsaid top boar-d member in reverse bend relationship therewith andextending downwardly and outwardly therefrom and in vertical alignmenttherewith, a plurality of metal strips in association with the other endof said bottom board member and extending upwardly and outwardlytherefrom in a direction away from said bottom board member and in thedirection of the unde-rsurface of the forward free end of the top boardmember, certain of said strips being of a length less than and at anangle to the horizontal greater than other of said strips, the free endsof said strips being bent outwardly and downwardly forming a pluralityof fulcrum points, each of said fulcrum points being vertically spacedand horizontally spaced from one another whereby the resiliency of thetop board member and the strips will impart the maximum degree of springto all users, and means for securing said bottom board member to asupport adjacent its point of association with said strip means.

3. A diving boar-d construction in accordance with claim 2 wherein saidmetal top board member and said metal bottom board member are in theform of a plurality of metal strips in side by side relation, andincluding means retaining said metal strips in tight side by sideengagement with one another.

4. A diving board construction in accordance with claim 2 wherein themetal top member and the metal bottom member are in one piece, and saidstrips are integral with said bottom member.

5. A diving board construction in accordance with claim 2 which includesframe means associated with the bottom board member and the top boardmember, the top of said frame means being positioned above the said topboard member to provide a platform for a diver to jump onto said topboard member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,645,483 7/1953 Smith 272662,882,052 4/ 1959 Smith et al. 27266 2,918,281 12/1959 Towle 272-663,003,763 10/1961 Griflith et al. 27266 3,083,965 4/ 1963 Iewett 272663,166,315 1/1965 Jewett 27266 FOREIGN PATENTS 294,078 9/ 1916 Germany.1,032,140 6/ 1958 Germany.

268,125 7/ 1950 Switzerland.

OTHER REFERENCES Product Engineering, July 11, 1960, page 81, Figs. 6and 7.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

F. BARRY SHAY, A. W. KRAMER,

Assistant Examiners.

2. A DIVING BOARD CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A METAL TOP BOARD MEMBER, AMETAL BOTTOM BOARD MEMBER INTEGRALLY SECURED AT ONE END TO ONE END OFSAID TOP BOARD MEMBER IN REVERSE BEND RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH ANDEXTENDING DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY THEREFROM AND IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENTTHEREWITH, A PLURALITY OF METAL STRIPS IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE OTHER ENDOF SAID BOTTOM BOARD MEMBER AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLYTHEREFROM IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID BOTTOM BOARD MEMBER AND IN THEDIRECTION OF THE UNDERSURFACE OF THE FORWARD FREE END OF THE TOP BOARDMEMBER, CERTAIN OF SAID STRIPS BEING OF A LENGTH LESS THAN AND AT ANANGLE TO THE HORIZONTAL GREATER THAN OTHER OF SAID STRIPS, THE FREE ENDSOF SAID STRIPS BEING BENT OUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY FORMING A PLURALITYOF FULCRUM POINTS, EACH OF SAID FULCRUM POINTS BEING VERTICALLY SPACEDAND HORIZONTALLY SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER WHEREBY THE RESILIENCY OF THETOP BOARD MEMBER AND THE STRIPS WILL IMPART THE MAXIMUM DEGREE OF SPRINGTO ALL USERS, AND MEANS FOR SECURING SAID BOTTOM BOARD MEMBER TO ASUPPORT ADJACENT ITS POINT OF ASSOCIATION WITH SAID STRIP MEANS.